We looked at three of the biggest mobile platforms in terms of users accessing the internet: iOS, Android and Windows 8. What is the best mobile platform for working on the move?

First impressions of Android, iOS and Windows 8

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We find out what is the best mobile platform for beginners working on the move

Speed of connection is not the only consideration when you are surfing on the move; you also need to choose with what device to use that web access. It is impossible for us to test every mobile device (although you read our reviews of the best devices at pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews), so we teamed up with Broadband Genie to look at three of the biggest mobile platforms in terms of users accessing the internet: iOS, Android and Windows 8 (sorry BlackBerry, get a BlackBerry 10 tablet on the market and we can talk). What is the best mobile platform for working on the move?

We found one person who had never used each platform and gave them a tablet. Then we set them a series of tasks. For all your broadband needs visit Broadband Advisor. See all Broadband tips.

Using iOS on the move

Our Apple tester is a BlackBerry and Windows guy. When exposed to iOS for the first time he was impressed: he found it well laid out, and the app system simple, intuitive and consistent. This, he said, made him feel confident and in control of the experience. Our tester found plenty of positives about the entertainment and app experience as a whole.

It wasn't all good, however. Our iOS tester just couldn't get on with the onscreen keyboard. There were also problems with some of the tasks we set: he couldn't watch a clip on 4oD without Wi-Fi, the lack of Java and Flash support occasionally reared its ugly head, and he struggled to download and edit an Office document.

Using Android on the move

Our Android tester is a regular user of iOS and Windows. She quickly became familiar and comfortable with the interface. Finding, installing and deleting apps was a cinch, and she found Google Voice search to be a big a positive.

She had some issues getting started, but they were more to do with the inexpensive hardware on which Android often runs than the software. Our tester also struggled to get Flash or Java working, but did manage to edit Office docs.

Using Windows on the move

Our Windows 8 tablet tester is used to Windows, but that of the Windows 7 desktop variety. She also uses iOS.

Her initial experience of using Windows 8 on a tablet with a mobile-broadband connection was poor. While our tester felt that things look simpler than Windows 7 in terms of layout, she found the user experience anything but simple, and struggled to complete simple mobile web-related tasks.

She was also confused by what she perceived as a lack of distinction between what is an actual app and what is an old-style Windows program. Because of this even traditional Windows staples such as Word and Excel became a problem. Using SkyDrive was a particular challenge when using a flaky mobile-broadband connection.

Ultimately she found she could achieve all the tasks we set her, but that it was more of a struggle than she would have liked.

What's the best mobile platform to use on the move?

It is impossible to draw firm conclusions based on this test, but there are some general points that we can gather.

iOS is a stable and intuitive platform. It is the most immediately easy to use mobile OS. But it is limited: even with the plethora of apps available our tester found it difficult to complete tasks involving Office or Flash. These things are possible, but in the time we allowed he found the constraints of iOS prevented him being entirely productive.

Windows 8 offers almost the opposite conundrum. It can do it all, but the learning curve is steep. There is literally nothing you can't do on a Windows 8 Pro tablet that you can do on a PC.

Android sits somewhere in the middle. Now that Google Play offers a comparable selection of apps and media, it is a genuine rival to Apple's platform. But this customisable OS remains a compromise: it is not as polished as iOS, and it offers not as much in the way of true functionality as does Windows 8 Pro. (Check out the Best Mobile Broadband Deals.) You can read Broadband Genie's take on this with their best mobile broadband winners and best mobile broadband analysis pieces.

Comments

Brian Davies said: Comments,Brian Davies,I agree with you totally. Also remember there is a quick menu (power menu?) which can be accessed by either right-clicking the Start button in the bottom left corner, or by pressing Windows Key + X.
Most users fail to set up their new Start screen to have everything they need on it... including Control Panel items! Put stuff at both ends of the Start screen. It opens to the left hand side... hit your End key and you are at the right hand side. On a full HD screen, between the 2 ends there is ample space to have every shortcut you'll ever need fully visible without scrolling. Just use Home and End to jump from one end to the other.

Jezclayton said: Comments,Jezclayton,The clear winner here is Windows 8. As you state it can do anything you can do on a PC.The travesty is Microsoft's failure to educate users on how to use it. Let's face it ten minutes with an experienced user will start most new users off in the right direction and once they understand the totally different approach required they will soon be in a position to embrace the platform.For instance, suppose you want to create a new user. Under previous versions of Windows you would click the start button, select control panel, select users and then make your change. With W8 new users are immediately baffled by the lack of a start button so they sit confused. The reality is all they have to do is type in Users on the start screen and then they are presented with a list of options and merely have to click the one required. Same applies to just about any other task. Simple eh?Shutting down the computer seems to baffle as well. In reality all you need do is right click your user icon on the top right of the start screen, sign off and then on the user log in screen you see an icon at the bottom right which gives the option to shut down, sleep etc. Easy if you know how.I must admit to having felt intimidated by W8 when I first got it but my work is very much MS Office based and the platform was a must. However, the more I use it the more I love it. I just wish someone could have showed me a few basics before I started. The learning curve is initially steep if on your own, however once you start it is plain sailing.